Formal Blog Task 8: E-Safety and Ethics

Formal Blog Task 8: E-safety and Ethics

Due to the massive advancements in technology and access to the Internet, the area of Internet safety is becoming an increasing concern for all those involved with the well-being of children. Livingstone and Bober (2005), in the UK Children Go Online research project, found that over 75% of 9-19 year olds had internet access at home and 92% had access at school. It is a positive step that many children have access to such a powerful learning resource but it also means they have access to a very destructive and potentially dangerous resource.

30% of 9-19 years olds claim to have had no teaching on how to use the internet (Livingstone and Bober 2005). This highlights an important part of internet safety in school. The curriculum and every individual school must ensure that pupils are taught how to use the internet safely and any potential problems they may face when venturing online. I have seen this done by children being shown how by going online is like going outside, it can be dangerous but there are some amazing discoveries to be found. Most if not all children would know not to give out personal information on the street and this should be the same online.  However, 46% of children claim to have given out personal information to someone who they have met online (Livingstone and Bober 2005).

The Department of Education (DfE) (2011) found that 34% of children had been affected by cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is now becoming one of the major issues relating to internet safety. Teachers need to be aware of this, teach children what to do when this happens and be prepared to deal with issues that come into school. Schools should also be prepared to support and inform parents of the potential issues relating to the internet. Teachers should also ensure that in their classroom life internet safety is promoted and children are shielded from inappropriate material. Cennamo et al. (2013) argues that teachers should lay out It suites so that the teacher can monitor what the children are viewing continually as to support and protect children from what they may come across inadvertently.

However, as teacher and as parents we must not exclude children form the positive aspects of the internet. We must not scare children away but must make them informed consumers of the online world. Livingsotne and Bober (2005) argue that as exposure to positive elements of the internet increases so do the negative aspects. It is impossible to avoid them in the current context of the web therefore we must ensure children are prepared to be safe online.

Bibliography

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. and Ertmer, P. (2013) Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (2^nd Edition) Stamford: Engage Learning

Livingstone, S. and Bober, M. (2005) UK Children Go Online [online] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/28_04_05_childrenonline.pdf (accessed 30/03/14)

DfE (2011) The protection of children online: a brief scoping review to identify vulnerable groups. [online] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181476/CWRC-00085-2011.pdf (accessed 29/01/14)